"Ah, Cassius Scipio, you came.”

“Yeah, I’m here.” I toss him the letter. It seems like he’s been expecting me.

“My soldier here says you came alone. Where are your hundred troops?”

“It says a hundred troops or the equivalent. I satisfy the requirements perfectly well.”

I was expecting some reaction, but his face was completely frozen in that disinterested look. He still gets up from his chair and begins walking out.

“Come prove it.” He orders me.

I follow him back outside of the base. We arrive at a field about 10 minutes away. It would seem he is worried about causing damage nearby. There was an entourage with us, two women, one wearing noble clothes and one wearing armor. There were five men as well, each carrying unique weapons and armor.

I see him face me ready to spar. He leaves his hands down to the side and simply waits for me to come to him. I ready my fists and get into position to leap at him, but he speaks up.

“Cassius Scipio, if you truly wish to prove yourself, draw your blades and fight to kill.”

Once again, I experience his grand arrogance. Very well, he asked for it. I draw my blades and charge up lethal magic. If there are witnesses here to prove it was a fair duel, there should be no problems with me killing him.

“Don’t blame me when you get killed, old bastard.”

I leap at him at top speed. I use wind magic which I have gained even better control over recently. I kick my foot into the ground just before him, sliding towards him while I kick up into his chest. I am significantly shorter than him, I have to kick high into the air.

The powerful kick I launched was caught by one of his hands. I was prepared for this, I sent powerful explosion magic out of my foot. He stepped out of the way. I swing my blade at his neck, but he jumps back leisurely.

So far I haven’t used any of my most powerful techniques, but it seems like I’ll need to. I start by forming sand beneath me, then I form a sandstorm. He just stands within it.

After successfully blocking visibility, I form giant rocks and lift them into the sky. Launching them at him rapidly. I can tell he dodged them, I control the sand of the sandstorm, and I can feel him moving because of that.

I use my next most powerful move. I fill the sandstorm with methane gas. Once I’m confident with the contents, I launch an explosive fireball into it. The explosion shook the ground, the sandstorm fell apart with newly formed glass across the ground.

Did I get him? No, to my left!

I raise my guard just in time, but that barely helps. My left arm is shattered, I am thrown across the field. Just in time, I managed to catch myself and leap back. I apply healing magic to my arm, but it is still out of commission. I suck at healing magic.

Ok, there is only one move left to do. I drop my blade in my left hand, now holding onto only the silver elven dagger. I cast focus magic as powerful as possible for me. Time begins to move in slow motion.

In the air behind me, I shoot a large chunk of metal that I burn as hot as possible, it’s magnesium. With the blinding light just behind my back, I cast illusion magic. It’s very difficult magic, but with the right conditions, you can make the target see multiple of you. The logic I don’t entirely understand, but it works regardless.

I use wind magic to propel myself faster than I ever could normally, I also use magic to control my bone mechanics. This is my attack, confuse the opponent and move faster than any human normally could.

I take serious leg injuries as I stop myself just behind Ozias, but those can be healed. Something I learned about this dagger; it’s made of some strange metal I never saw before in my old world. The melting point is ridiculously high, I can burn it hotter than any normal magic with its shape not changing at all.

With my blade scorching hot and swinging at his neck, my body moving at speeds beyond normal human imagination, and complete focus on the task at hand, there is no way he can survive this. I am going to win.

Ozias faster than even I was moving leaps forward. He knew where I was precisely without even looking. He shifts his body 180 degrees and launches his palm at my abdomen. Ah, no good, I can’t stop my movements. At the insane speed, I’m moving, if I collide with the palm of his hand I might be killed.

I can’t stop myself; I collide with his arm. He simultaneously grabs the arm my dagger is in and controls it. I expected my body matter to splatter all over the place, but then I felt it. He is moving his arm back and dampening my blow. He is absorbing the shock of my body and keeping me alive.

He stops my body with just enough force to knock me unconscious, but not enough to kill me. I lay on the ground and looked at the man who was completely unphased. It’s as if I posed no challenge to him whatsoever. No, those are just his eyes and expression. He is sweating, and crimson flows from his neck. It’s just a shallow wound, barely enough to inconvenience him.

This was the day that I truly learned, deep down in my soul, what a monster the man named Ozias truly is.

…

I awoke in a soft bed within a strange building. It was surprisingly nice for a military encampment. I remember where I am clearly, as well as what happened just now.

Ah, damn it. How can someone be that strong? It’s just absurd. In my frustration, I slam down my left fist into the mattress.

Huh? I thought my arm was broken. It is completely healed, this magic rivals what Octavia could do. I feel a hand touch my shoulder. There was a man who was watching the duel there, he was wearing very light leather armor over priest robes. He looks to be in his early 20s with blond hair and blue eyes.

“Now now, please relax. You still need to rest, I healed you to the best of my abilities, but we don’t know if there is lasting damage.” He said with a warm smile.

“I’m fine, well what’s going to happen to me? Is he not satisfied with my contribution to the army?”

“I don’t know anything about that, but he did ask to meet with you when you wake up. Let’s relax a bit before we go. For starters, my name is Lucanus Drusus. I am a priest in the capital who joined the war efforts in hopes of saving the lives of our soldiers. You are Cassius Scipio correct?”

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“Yeah.” I don’t really care for this conversation. All I want to know is what’s going to happen from now on.

“Why are you trying to join this war, Cassius? The battlefield is no place for someone so young… what reason could you have for joining at your age?”

“I have reasons, and I don’t need to justify myself to you.”

“I’m sorry. But will you please listen to me and reconsider? I have heard stories of war, and I seriously believe it to be nothing like you imagine. There is no point in going for glory or service at your age. Why don’t-“

“Why don’t you shut the fuck up? You know nothing about me, so stop trying to lecture me. Do your job and heal me, then get the fuck out.” Why was he acting like he knew what was good for me? He should just mind his business.

“Are you sure you don’t want to talk?”

“I’m sure.”

“I will always be here if you need it.”

“I won’t.”

“I-I see. Well… if you are feeling better, we can go see the commander…”

I get out of bed and put my clothes and shoes on. Then I fasten my daggers at my waist. I thought this building was surprisingly nice. It isn’t far from the base headquarters.

When I enter, Ozias has the person he’s meeting with step out for a while. He gestures for me to take a seat and has a scantily clad woman who’s there with him pour me a drink. I take it and sip while he talks to me.

“Cassius Scipio. In that battle, you pushed me harder than anyone else has in quite a while. At first, I thought you were just a cocky kid. Now I realize you have some bite to your bark. I accept you as a man worth a hundred soldiers. You will be granted an honorary rank of officer in the army. I would make you an actual officer, but someone of your mindset would not be best suited for leading soldiers.”

So, he actually accepted me? That being said, he seemed to have more to say to me. His gaze was as disinterested as ever, but he simultaneously seemed to be appraising me.

“Now then, I have some questions for you. First, why are you joining this war? People like you don’t fight for anything except self-interest. You don’t seem to have political ambitions, or people you wish to protect. I doubt you contain any loyalty in your soul either. So, tell me, why?” He really figured that much out about me in so little time?

“There is a certain person I wish to kill. He is a member of the Amadonian military. If I join this war, I may find him someday. With the military backing me, there is a good chance I can kill him.”

“I see, revenge huh? That does explain it. Very well, serve my army diligently and I will aid you in your revenge.”

“Why would you help me?”

“I don’t need any ulterior motives to kill Amidonians do I?”

“I see.”

Well, it makes sense that he will want to work with me if we have a common enemy. I would prefer to fight alone, but I can swallow my pride if it means a better chance to kill that man. Getting Octavia involved was unacceptable, but I have no problem involving this infuriating person.

“Then we have a deal I assume?” he asked.

It seems the deal is that I follow orders and fight alongside him. In exchange, he will help me kill my enemies. Well, it’s acceptable.

“Deal.”

“Very well, you will be an honorary officer of my army’s auxiliaries. You will report to me personally for most of your assignments. When I’m not around you will report to Domitius. He is a commoner, but I assume you have no problem with that?”

It seems he’s worried that I as a noble will be reporting to a commoner. Well, I’m pretty sure Ozias is a commoner too but whatever. I don’t have problems with that, I come from a world with equality after all.

“No problem.”

“Very well, for now, you will spend your days training. Both alone and with your fellow auxiliaries.”

I leave the tent alone and return to the building I was staying in. It was a tiny cabin, but it had a nice bed and a sofa with a table and desk. I was given this both for being a noble and an officer.

My first day on the base ends.

…

My next few months followed a strict routine. I woke up before dawn and ate a large breakfast of olive oil, bread, and some meat. I trained with my unit until noon. After noon the rest of my team went patrolling and performing their necessary duties while I continued my training alone.

Often while I trained alone Lucanus came and talked to me. Sometimes he helped me better my support magic, but I made very slow progress in that field. Physical enhancement and focus spells are possible for me, everything else in that field is difficult.

Lucanus is slightly extraverted, but he talks to me like a brother would. It’s kind of annoying, but I put up with it. He often asks if I’m sleeping well, eating well, and not pushing myself too hard. I tell him I’m fine, even though it’s a lie.

Being on the base is a challenge, but not a unique one. My nightmares continue to get worse. I overstuff myself every day, eating the portions of an adult soldier despite having a small body. I train until I’m a ragdoll, then wake up not fully recovered and do it again. I often times have to cast recovery magic on myself to get enough strength to do it again.

He can tell I’m lying, but he doesn’t push me.

The other person that gets involved in my personal training is Ozias. Every day he comes to the grounds for about an hour and helps me improve my techniques. It’s not enough to say he’s strong, he is also a genius.

I have no clue why he does this. While we may be allies, that doesn’t really explain why he helps me but doesn’t get this involved with the other soldiers. Honestly, everything about him is a mystery to me. Normally I can get a pretty good idea of how people think, and I can predict their actions to some extent. Get a decent idea of their philosophy too. Not with Ozias.

After four months of this schedule, we began the process of moving out of the base and towards the north. This meant that most likely, the war would start in the next few weeks.

On the road to the north, I shared a tent with Lucanus. I trained like normal on the road and packed relatively lightly. Auxiliaries only needed to keep a few days of food on them, the rest was carried by the supply convoys. Our armor and weapons were light as well.

Lucanus spoke to me within the tent,

“Cassius, are you sure you want to keep going? You still have time to back out. It’s ok to run away.”

“I’m not a coward Lucanus. Besides, if I run now, I won’t be able to kill that man.”

“You haven’t told me who yet. Please tell me Cassius, who is this man who you need to kill so desperately? What did he do?”

“He is from the Spider Unit of Amidonia. He killed my entire family. I don’t know his name, but I will know him when I see him.”

“I… I see… I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

“Now that you know will you shut up?”

“Cassius, would you please listen to me ramble for a bit?”

“I can’t stop you.”

“Cassius, you are one of the smartest people I ever met. You don’t just know so many things beyond your years. But you think in ways that are incredibly unique. There is so much deep logic and curiosity within your thoughts. You also understand the way people think and act far more than any normal person.”

“Flattery will get you nowhere.”

“Despite this, you choose to think the worst of people. You see only the worst in the people around you and ignore the good parts of them. Why do you choose to look at people this way? Why do you choose to only look at the ugly in the world when it is so beautiful?”

“You think you know me so well?”

“I have met people like you before.”

“I see people for what they are. I don’t romanticize people like you do. Humans are ugly creatures to the core. They love and fight only when convenient, then cast people aside. They kill others out of pure self-interest. They start wars when cooperation is a far superior outcome. They do this because humans are a failure for a species. This is a fundamental truth. This is all I see when I look deeply into the human soul.”

“Even you? If this is true, what is kindness to you?”

“Especially me. Kindness is just a performance. People pretend to care about others to get things out of them. That is all.”

“I don’t think you truly believe that about kindness.”

“What are you talking about?”

“If you truly believed that. Then you wouldn’t be so scared of kindness.”

“How the hell am I scared of it?”

“If you truly thought nothing of kindness, you would ignore it like Ozias. But you get upset when others are kind to you, then you push them away.”

God, I’m tired of this conversation. I leave the tent immediately after he’s finished.

“Where are you going?” He asked.

“Elsewhere,” I respond.

I sleep beneath a tree 10 minutes a walk away.

We continued walking until we set up a temporary camp by the mountains on the border. After resting for about a week there, we get news from Ozias.

“The Republic of Amidonia has killed an envoy sent to their capital. This is an unacceptable crime, an act against those who represent our nation and people. With this act, they are mocking you, my soldiers. By saying they can kill our emissaries, they are saying they can kill you too. Will you stand for this humiliation?”

“NO!” the 12 thousand soldier’s chant.

“Then how shall you repay it?’

“WITH BLOOD!”

“Very well, we shall repay them tenfold. Soldiers, if you value your honor and dignity then follow me!”

With this, he turned around and walked in front of his men towards the mountain pass.

The war has begun.